Sell Your Damaged House Fast in Long Island, NY | Cash Offers in 24 Hours

Yes, absolutely. You can sell a house with fire damage in any condition, from minor smoke damage to complete destruction. You have three main options:

• Repair first, then sell traditionally: Best if you have excellent insurance coverage, time, and money to invest.
• Sell as-is to a cash buyer: Fastest and easiest option, ideal for most situations.
• Sell for land value only: Best if damage is so severe the structure is worthless.

The key is understanding that traditional buyers (those using mortgages) typically can't buy fire-damaged properties until all repairs are complete and the home passes inspection. This is why most homeowners sell to cash buyers like us who specialize in fire-damaged properties.

We've been buying fire-damaged homes in Nassau and Suffolk County for 26 years—we've seen every type of damage and every scenario.

Repair costs vary dramatically based on damage extent, but here are Long Island-specific ranges:

• Smoke cleaning and deodorization: $2,000-$8,000
• Wall and ceiling repair: $1,500-$5,000
• Flooring replacement: $2,000-$8,000
• Total: $5,500-$21,000

• Structural repairs: $10,000-$30,000
• Smoke and soot remediation: $5,000-$15,000
• Electrical system replacement: $5,000-$12,000
• Plumbing repairs: $3,000-$8,000
• HVAC replacement: $5,000-$12,000
• Water damage/mold remediation: $4,000-$15,000
• Total: $32,000-$92,000

• Structural rebuilding: $40,000-$100,000
• Complete electrical: $12,000-$25,000
• Complete plumbing: $10,000-$20,000
• HVAC systems: $10,000-$20,000
• Finishing work: $30,000-$80,000
• Code upgrades (Nassau/Suffolk requirements): $15,000-$40,000
• Total: $117,000-$285,000+

Nassau and Suffolk County Code Upgrades Add 15-30% to Base Costs: Older homes must be brought up to current code (Updated electrical panels, fire detection systems, upgraded insulation, structural reinforcements).

Source: Based on local contractor estimates and data from Angi and HomeAdvisor for Long Island specifically.

The hidden costs: Don't forget permits ($500-$2,000), inspections ($300-$800), temporary housing during repairs, and your time managing the project.

Yes, absolutely—and failing to disclose can cost you dearly. New York State law requires sellers to complete a Property Condition Disclosure Statement that specifically asks about fires, flooding, and other damage. You must disclose:

• That a fire occurred (date and extent)
• All damage caused (fire, smoke, water)
• All repairs made (with permits and documentation)
• Any ongoing issues
• All insurance claims filed

How long are you liable? In New York, buyers can sue for non-disclosure up to 6 years after closing. Even if you think the damage was minor, disclose it.

What if you sell as-is? You still must disclose the fire, but you're not required to make repairs. The disclosure simply states the condition as-is and that you're making no repairs. This actually protects you because the buyer accepts the property in its current condition.

When we buy your home: We expect full disclosure and buy with complete knowledge of all damage. Once we close, you're no longer liable for any fire-related issues—we assume all responsibility.

Insurance and selling can work together, but timing matters. Here's how it typically works:

• You can sell as-is and keep any payout you receive before closing
• Some homeowners file the claim, get the payout, and then sell
• Others skip the insurance process entirely and just sell

• You can often assign the insurance benefits to the buyer
• The buyer takes over your claim and receives the insurance money
• This can increase the sale price since the buyer gets insurance funds
• We coordinate this regularly and handle all the paperwork

This is more complex and depends on your specific policy. Some policies require you to use funds specifically for repairs. If you sell instead, you might need to return unused funds, repay the insurance company from sale proceeds, or assign remaining benefits to the buyer.

The best approach: Contact your insurance company or agent and ask: "Can I sell my fire-damaged home instead of repairing it?", "What happens to my insurance payout if I sell?", and "Can I assign my benefits to a buyer?"

We've worked with dozens of insurance companies and can join calls with your adjuster to ensure you're getting fair treatment and maximum benefits.

In most cases, yes—but it depends on the timing and your specific policy.

• You receive insurance money, make no repairs, then sell: Generally allowed. You might need to return unused funds or disclose this to the buyer, but it's typically legal. Some policies have clauses about this, so review yours.
• You receive a partial payout, sell as-is: Usually fine. You disclose that some insurance was received but repairs weren't made. The buyer accepts this.
• You assign your insurance benefits to the buyer: The buyer receives your insurance payout and uses it for repairs after purchase. This can increase the offer price.

Some insurance policies have "repair requirements" stating funds must be used for repairs. If your policy has this, you might need to return unused insurance money, negotiate with the insurance company, or structure the sale to satisfy requirements.

Our recommendation: Be completely transparent with both your insurance company and your buyer (us). We'll help structure the sale to maximize what you keep while staying fully compliant with your policy.

Fire-damaged homes in Long Island typically retain 40-60% of their pre-fire value when sold as-is, but this varies significantly based on several factors.

• Scenario 1 (Minor Kitchen Fire): Pre-fire $550k → As-is $380k-$440k (69-80% retention).
• Scenario 2 (Moderate Whole-Home): Pre-fire $450k → As-is $180k-$270k (40-60% retention).
• Scenario 3 (Severe Structural): Pre-fire $400k → As-is $120k-$180k (30-45% retention - primarily land value).

Why the value loss? Repair costs, financing difficulty (most buyers can't get loans), stigma, insurance concerns, and risk premium. After repairs and disclosures, even if you spend $100,000 repairing the home, you typically only recover 60-70% of that investment due to the property's fire history.

Several types of buyers purchase fire-damaged houses, each with different motivations and offers:

Real estate investors with cash reserves specifically for fire-damaged properties. We offer quick closings (7-14 days), as-is purchases, and no repair requirements. Typical offer: 40-60% of pre-fire value. Best for homeowners who want speed and certainty.

Investors focused on quick renovation and resale. They need larger profit margins, so offers are typically 35-55% of pre-fire value.

Looking for teardown opportunities. Offers based on land value minus demolition costs. Best for severely damaged homes where structure has no value.

Using FHA 203(k) loans. They pay slightly higher (50-70%) but have a much slower process (6+ months) that often falls through.

Offers vary widely. Best for unique situations in tight markets.

How we're different: 26 years serving Long Island, transparent pricing, local expertise, and fair offers.

Timeline depends entirely on which selling method you choose:

Factors That Affect Timeline: For cash sales, it's your decision speed and title issues. For traditional sales, it's insurance responsiveness, contractor availability, and permit approval times (Hempstead/Babylon are slower; Brookhaven/Smithtown are faster).

Real Long Island Example: A homeowner in Garden City chose to repair. It took 14 months total (2 months insurance, 3 months delay, 5 months repairs, 2 months permits, 2 months to sell). If they sold to us, it would have taken 14 days.

Yes—permits are almost always required for fire damage repairs in Nassau and Suffolk County. This is a major hidden cost and delay.

• Structural repairs (walls, roof, foundation)
• Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC work
• Any work affecting building structure or code compliance

• Costs: $300-$800 (minor) to $2,000-$5,000+ (major).
• Inspections: Multiple stages (Rough, Insulation, Final).
• Timeline: Adds 60-120 days to your project.

⚠️ Never skip permits: It can result in stop-work orders, fines ($500-$5,000+), inability to get a Certificate of Occupancy, and legal liability.

The As-Is Advantage: When you sell to us, we handle all permits, coordination, and code compliance after purchase. You avoid this entire headache.

Yes, you can sell a condemned house in New York, but the process and buyer pool are limited. A house is condemned when deemed structurally unsafe or uninhabitable.

Yes, but you must disclose the status. Most buyers can't get financing, so you'll attract cash investors or developers. The price will reflect demolition or heavy repair costs.

You receive a notice and have 30-90 days to respond. You can repair, demolish ($10k-$25k cost), or sell to a cash buyer. When you sell to us, we purchase even if condemned and handle all building department communications.

Pre-fire value $400k. Condemned status. Land value $180k. Demolition cost $18k. Realistic cash offer: $145,000-$160,000. Condemnation doesn't mean worthless—get it evaluated.

This is about money, time, and stress. Selling As-Is means you sell in current condition, buyer accepts all damage, no cleaning required.

Difference: $18,000 more. Is that worth 12-18 months of stress, risk of cost overruns, and managing contractors? For most Long Island homeowners, selling as-is makes more sense.

We believe in transparency. Here is the exact formula we use:

We look at what similar, undamaged homes sold for in your neighborhood (e.g., Garden City). Baseline: $460,000.

Structural ($25k) + Smoke ($8k) + Water ($12k) + Electric ($15k) + Plumbing ($6k) + HVAC ($9k) + Finish ($18k) = $93,000 Total Repairs.

Taxes, insurance, utilities, permits, and future selling costs = $35,000.

We typically use 12% (Industry standard is 10-15%) = $43,000.

Why is this fair? You get $289k in 7-14 days with zero risk. If you repaired it yourself, you might net ~$343k, but only after 18 months of work and risking cost overruns.

We differ from others: We use a conservative 12% margin (vs 20%), show our calculations, and build our reputation on fair offers.